The workshop on “Private Sector Cooperation for Enhancing Intra-OIC Tourism” was held in Izmir, Turkey, on 10 December 2010. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey in accordance with the Resolution adopted by the 26th session of the COMCEC, held in Istanbul, the Republic of Turkey, on 5-8 October 2010. The Workshop was attended by representatives of private tourism agencies in some OIC member countries and representatives of the following OIC institutions: COMCEC Coordination Office, SESRIC, ICDT, and ICCI.

During the working sessions, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB) made presentations on the experience of Turkey in promoting and encouraging the tourism sector and in enhancing the importance of public-private partnership in this regard. The participants conducted general debate discussions related to the challenges of tourism development in the OIC member countries and explored possible ways and means to promote cooperation among the representatives of the private sector involved in the field of tourism in the OIC member countries. In this context, the participants of the workshop agreed on the offer to organise other meetings which would deliberate on and investigate the possibility of establishing a special OIC platform for cooperation among the representatives of the private sector with the aim of enhancing intra-OIC tourism.